Poly (ε-caprolactone)-Based Scaffolds with Multizonal Architecture: Synthesis, Characterization, and In Vitro Tests

Abstract

Tissue engineering is vital in treating injuries and restoring damaged tissues, aiming to accelerate regeneration and optimize the complex healing process. In this study, multizonal scaffolds, designed to mimic tissues with bilayer architecture, were prepared using the rotary jet spinning technique (RJS scaffolds). Polycaprolactone and different concentrations of alginate hydrogel (2, 4, and 6% m/v) were used. The materials were swollen in pracaxi vegetable oil (PO) (Pentaclethra macroloba) and evaluated in terms of surface morphology, wettability, functional groups, thermal behavior, crystallinity, and cytotoxicity. X-ray diffraction (XRD) showed the disappearance of the diffraction peak 2θ = 31.5° for samples from the polycaprolactone/pracaxi/alginate (PCLOA) group, suggesting a reduction of crystallinity according to the presence of PO and semi-crystalline structure. Wettability gradients (0 to 80.91°) were observed according to the deposition layer and hydrogel content. Pore diameters varied between 9.27 μm and 37.57 μm. Molecular interactions with the constituents of the formulation were observed via infrared spectra with Fourier transform (FTIR), and their influence was detected in the reduction of the maximum degradation temperature within the groups of scaffolds (polycaprolactone/alginate (PCLA) and PCLOA) about the control. In vitro tests indicated reduced cell viability in the presence of alginate hydrogel and PO, respectively.

Preparation of Hirudin-Loaded Chitosan/Polycaprolactone Bowl-Shaped Particles and an Application for a Drug Delivery System

“…The FTIR spectra of hirudin, CS/PCL MPs, and rH/CS/PCL MPs are shown in Figure 4. Among them, PCL is the most abundant and therefore its characteristic spectrum dominates, producing sharp peaks in the band region in the range of 1720-1740 cm −1 due to carbonyl stretching vibration; the C-H stretching vibration peak of saturated hydrocarbons appears near 2940 cm −1 [38]. The broad and absorption peaks at 3390 cm −1 and 1044 cm −1 are attributed to N-H and C-O in chitosan [39].…”